Having said that I did learn without an instructor, but rather used Co-Pilot to get me over the hump. Let me clarify this one point. I did have another person who could fly (but was no instructor) hand me his box for a few minutes and let me land his plane with a Co-Pilot one time, and by the way, I was scared spitless. I guess I would have to agree with the concensus, that if there is any feasible way to get instruction (at least for the first landing), then that is the smart money. To just go to the field alone for the first experience and put your plane in the air without any instruction at all is almost certain to fail. It IS harder than you think.